USA > Tennessee > Hickman County > A history of Hickman County, Tennessee > Part 11
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FIFTH DISTRICT.
and sunk my old shoes in the creek to atone for them. I rolled up his clothes and put them into his port- manteau, as they were quite new cloth of the best quality. I mounted as fine a horse as I ever strad- dled, and directed my course to Natchez in much better style than I had been for the last five days." This story, in Murrell's own words, of the deliberate murder of a defenseless traveler is one of the many stories of the bandit, Murrell, which overshadow all of the good traits of character of which tradition says he was possessed. Tradition says that Murrell had friends along this route, and that a pretended friend- Peter Clifford, of Big Spring Creek-upon one occa- sion betrayed him. Clifford learned from Murrell that he had stolen a horse in Humphreys County, and was then on his way to Williamson County to sell it. Clifford followed him and had him arrested by Will- iamson County authorities. Murrell was punished by thirty-nine lashes upon his bare back. While con- fined in the Franklin stocks, he, it is said, wrote upon them a transfer of his interest in them to a citizen of Hickman County, giving as his reason that the citi- zen named should have that which was justly due him. These stories of Murrell and his clan are not intended as a reflection upon the law-abiding citizens of the Fifth District or upon their no less law-abiding ances- tors. Bad men pass through all communities ; bad men live in all communities.
Abner Ponder, the builder of Ponder's Inn, was the father of several children, some of whom were:
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Madison, Archibald, Penn, Abner, and Clarissa. The latter was born on March 15, 1813. She mar- ried Leroy Perkins, the ceremony being performed by Daniel White, a Primitive Baptist, who preached often at the head of Bear Creek between 1825 and 1830. After the death of Perkins she married Jo- seph Webb, of the Seventh District. At the age of cighty-four her mind was still vigorous, and she talked entertainingly of how she and her little brother watched their father's sheep as they grazed upon the luxuriant grass of " The Barrens." She carried a tin horn, so that she could sound an alarm in case of an attack by wolves. In the event that she became lost, she was to sound this horn, so that her father could find her. She also told of how she gathered the wild flowers and strawberries which grew around her father's mill, built at his spring in 1820. That the fear of wolves was well founded is made evident by a wolf hunt engaged in by Joseph Weems and Arch. Ponder. Ponder, early one morning, went near the spring where Edney or McCord now lives, in search of his milch cows. He came upon a fawn, which he killed. He was preparing to lash it to his saddle, when the restlessness of his horse caused him to look. toward the place where he had slain the deer. Near this place he saw a large black wolf, which he imme- diately fired upon. The wolf fell, rolled over and over, snapping and snarling. Then it sprang up and ran rapidly away. Ponder, knowing that the animal was wounded, went for Weems, who kept a large pack
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of hounds and a particularly ferocious cur. The chase went first in the direction of Turnbull Creek, then through the hills of upper Mill Creek, finally, after ten hours, coming to an exciting end in a hollow near Lick Creek. Here, when Ponder arrived, the wolf stood at bay. Dismounting, he again shot it. The wolf, however, again rose, and this time rushed at his pursuer. Not having time to reload, Ponder sprang behind a tree which had been struck by light- ning. From this he jerked a large piece of wood and with it again brought the wolf to the ground. Weems arrived at this juncture. With him was his large cur, valueless during the chase, valuable at the finish. The already sorely wounded wolf was soon slain.
James Birden, who married a daughter of Abner Ponder, was in the American army at the battle of New Orleans. When the Tennessee soldiers returned home, Birden was not with them, and his fate was unknown. Late in the autumn of 1819 a stranger came to Ponder's and asked for lodging. He was dressed in plain, but good, clothing, and wore a heavy beard. When he entered the yard, a dog which had belonged to Birden commenced to leap about him, manifesting great joy. The stranger asked for Mrs. Birden, and when told that she had been dead two years his genuine grief disclosed his identity. It was James Birden, first recognized by his faithful dog. Soon after this he returned to his former home, Georgia, to which State his three children were after- wards carried by his brother-in-law, Penn Ponder.
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Andrew Carothers, a Primitive Baptist, preached on the head of Bear Creek between 1820 and 1830, as did also Thomas Murrell, of the same church. In 1820 Jacob Tucker taught school about one and a half miles from Ponder's Spring. Here Mark Thornton and Doyal Beard also taught. Dr. Haley, who lived on Pine River, was one of the first physicians of this section.
Near Lyell Station lived the late William Lyell. During the Civil War he served for a time in Mor- gan's Cavalry. After the war he engaged in a hotly contested race for sheriff against E. A. Dean, Dean winning by a small majority. William Lyell had much to do with the building of Lyell Station, as did also John and Robert Lyell, who live near by. Lyell Station is located upon a portion of a large entry made by - Stump, a member of a German family that were among the first settlers at " The Bluffs," now Nashville. Asa Shute, who was a pioneer land locator, was also a German. This family came to Nashville nearly twenty years after the Stump family came. One corner of this large entry is a white oak near the Blue Spring at the head of the west fork of - Fitz lives on the
Big Spring Creek, near where
road from Pinewood to Nashville. Another corner is near the Wynn place at the head of Mill Creek. Matthew Thornton, who died a few years ago on Sugar Creek, in the Eighth District, was one of the chain carriers when this survey was made. Near the Blue Spring, above referred to, Richard Beach, of
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Williamson County, was killed during the Civil War by a detachment of Federals. At Lyell Station there are now two stores-one conducted by Overbey Bros. ; the other, by Lovell & Son. The senior member of the latter firm, James Anderson Lovell, was born on Pine River on January 12, 1826, and has lived near his present place of residence since 1845.
Near the head of Big Spring Creek is Brister's Branch, named for Brister, a negro, who lived on this branch. Brister had been the slave of Edward (Ned) Nunnellee, but had purchased his freedom. In a cave on Brister's Branch saltpeter dirt was found. This dirt was placed in hoppers made of boards. Upon it water was poured. The drippings were caught in vessels and boiled down. When suffi- ciently crystallized, the product was carried in large quantities to Nashville, where it was easily sold. It was one of the principal ingredients used in the manu- facture of powder, and there was a great demand for it. Much of the salt used by the pioneers of Hick- man County was taken from the earth in the above manner. Most of it, however, was bought at Nash- ville, saltpeter and pelts being exchanged for it. "Nicholas Dudley, who was a prominent citizen, was engaged in the saltpeter business from 1812 to 1815. During the pioneer days he often acted as dentist, sur- geon, and physician for his neighbors. He extracted teeth, set broken limbs, and kept on hand a collection of native herbs, the medicinal properties of which he understood.
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Near Bon Aqua Station are the famous Bon Aqua Springs. These springs did not particularly attract the early settlers of the county, and no particular attention was given them until William B. Ross be- came the owner, about 1823. Even then there was nothing done, except to establish the ownership. The lands around the springs remained unoccupied. Ross located on the Tennessee River above where Johnson- ville now stands, and established what has since 1835 been known as Ross' Ferry. He ran the original line between Dickson and Hickman Counties. While the springs and a small tract of the surrounding land be- longed to Ross, there were no buildings or inclosures, and the hunter, the trapper, and the citizen were at liberty to camp there for whatever period they liked. In 1827 Jacob Humble, Millington Easley, and James D. Davis, of Pine River; Garrett Lane, of Vernon ; and Gen. William D. Williams, of Maury County, together with their families, spent the summer in the valley just above the springs. They occupied four little log cabins. From this point they went forth to the deer chase or wolf hunt; from here they went out in the early morning and "gobbled up " turkeys ; from here they went in search of wild strawberries and chinquapins, which grew in abundance on the surrounding lands. In the near-by forest they could almost any day find a " bee tree," with its treasure of honey. No violence is done the memories of these good citizens when the statement is made that here in the shade they often took a " drap," " peach and
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FIFTH DISTRICT.
honey" and "mint juleps" being their favorite medi- cines. Later many others came, living during their stay in wagons, tents, rude shelters, and cabins.
William Loche Weems was the first to make of this a famous watering place and health resort. He was born in Prince George County, Md., on December 9, 1792. He married Elizabeth Taylor Birch, who was born in the same county on April 11, 1797. She was a cousin of Gen. Zachary Taylor. Weems came to Tennessee in 1825 and located on Lick Creek. In 1826 he lived near Vernon, on the W. F. Mays place ; and in 1827 he moved to the William McEwen place, in the Third District, at which place he lived until 1839. In 1837 he bought the springs, which he named " Bon Aqua "-good water. He bought the springs and four hundred and six acres of land. He afterwards added to this until he owned about eighteen hundred acres. These lands were bought from Mckenzie and Long and from Dickey and Long, who had grants from North Carolina. In 1839 Weems, having an idea of the true value of the springs, and believing that they could be made profit- able to himself and beneficial to mankind in general, erected about fifteen cabins of hewn logs and began to advertise his springs as a health resort. From that date the name and fame of Weems' Springs went far and wide, and visitors from many places and many States came here from year to year. Weems also commenced to improve his farm, and, with the assist- ance of his slaves, which he owned to the number of
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
fifty, he opened about two hundred acres of farming land. In 1840 the springs were managed by William H. Deadman, who lived on Leatherwood Creek. He was a native of Virginia. After this year Weems assumed in person the management of the springs, and continued as manager until his death, in 1852. lle was buried at the McEwen place, in the Third District. After his death the springs and farming land became the property of his youngest son, to whom he had bequeathed them. This son was Philip Van Horn Weems, the son of Weems' second wife, who was Ann Elizabeth Burchett, of Virginia. Capt. P. V. H. Weems enlisted in Bateman's company of the Eleventh Tennessee Infantry in May, 1861. Of this company he later became captain, and, while acting as colonel of the regiment, he was mortally wounded in front of Atlanta, Ga., on July 27, 1864. He died on July 30. As a child, he had been the idol of the home and the pet of every visitor to the springs ; as a friend, no man was ever truer; as a soldier, no braver man ever donned a uniform or waved a sword. Such was Capt. Philip Van Horn Weems -- brave, noble Van Weems-who sleeps be- neath the soil of his native county, far from the bloody field upon which he laid down his life. After the close of the war the springs were bought by the Bon Aqua Springs Association. This company placed many expensive improvements here. Numerous nice cottages took the place of the log cabins, and a large hotel was erected at a cost of $40,000. Bon Aqua
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took first place among the watering places of Ten- nessee, and for several years enjoyed an era of great prosperity. Here rested from their labors some of the most prominent men of Tennessee. In August, 1838, misfortune came. The large hotel burned, and has never been rebuilt. A small hotel and a number of neat cottages yet remain.
Nathaniel Weems, a son of William and Elizabeth (Birch) Weems, died several years ago in the Third District. He was a wealthy and prominent citizen.
Another son, Hon. Joseph Weems, represented this county in the Lower House of the Forty-fourth General Assembly. He was born in Prince George County, Md., on September 19, 1820, and was brought by his father to Hickman County in 1825. In 1846 he enlisted in Company A (Whitfield's company), First Tennessee Regiment. He returned from Mex- ico in 1847. Since that time he has been active in the public life of the county.
Ellen Weems, a daughter of William Weems, mar- ried Henry Cummins, and was the mother of John and Samuel Cummins.
Elizabeth Taylor Weems, another daughter, mar- ried Albert Wilson, who once owned the land upon which the village of Pinewood now stands. He moved to Texas, where he died.
This district, in addition to Captain Weems, fur- nished another brave officer to the Confederate Army -Lieut. John L. Griffin, of the Forty-eighth Tennes- see Infantry-and from this district went a large
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
number of private soldiers as brave as those who led them. From this district a few saw fit to enlist in the Federal Army. Some of these fought well under the flag they chose to follow, while others acted as guides for Federal detachments operating in Hick- inan County. 1
Ernest Harold was killed by a train near Lyell Station in 1894. Joseph Lyell and a son of Thomas Yates were killed near Bon Aqua on July 4, 1893. Their slayer escaped. A negro, Sowell, was burned to death by molten metal at Warner Furnace a few years ago.
On the branch just below Bon Aqua Springs, dur- ing the latter part of the Civil War, Perkins shot two men, Moore and Gracey. Moore afterwards died from the wound inflicted. The men had some trouble about a horse, and an attempt was made to arrest Per- kins, who seemed inclined toward taking charge of the springs, despite the remonstrances of the manager, Mc.Minn. Constable Henry Cockrum and posse had Perkins in charge. When opposite the place where Joseph Weems lives, Perkins dismounted and opened fire upon them. The result is given above. Perkins, who claimed to be from Kentucky, escaped.
Capt. Dick McCann, of Nashville, while encamped with his body of independent rangers near Bon Aqua Springs, was surprised and captured by a Federal company in 1863. One of McCann's men was killed during the attack. McCann explained to his captors that, while his capture might have an unpleasant re-
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FIFTH DISTRICT.
sult, as far as he was concerned, anything was pleasant to him, just so that it was a change.
During the latter part of the war Jesse K. McMinn was killed by Federal soldiers at his home near Bon Aqua Springs.
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
CHAPTER IX.
THE SIXTH DISTRICT.
T HE Sixth District lies in the northeastern por- tion of the county, and includes that portion of Pine River between the mouth of Bear Creek and the line of the Seventh District which crosses the river between the residences of M. M. and H. T. Petty, one and a half miles below Pinewood. It is bounded on the north by Dickson County; on the east, by the Fifth and Seventh Districts; on the south, by the Seventh District; and on the west, by Humphreys County. Included in this district are Garner's Creek, Beaver Creek, and Plunder's Creek, all on the west side of Pine River. Flowing into Pine River from the east are Big Spring Creek, Little Spring Creek, and Bear Creek, which rise in the Fifth District ; also, Key's Branch. Pine River, which flows through the Sixth and Seventh Districts, rises in Dickson County near the town of Dickson. It runs in a southern direction and empties into Duck River near the noted Indian mounds in the Seventh District.
Jesse Fuqua, the Primitive Baptist preacher, in 1827 located on Big Spring Creek, one and a half miles from its mouth, on lands then owned by Solo- mon Jones. R. R. Brown, the father of James, Rob- ert, William T., and John Riley Brown, has lived on Big Spring Creek since 1836. He was born in Dick-
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SIXTH DISTRICT.
son County on November 26, 1828, and is a son of Spencer Brown, who came from North Carolina.
On the west side of Pine River, opposite the mouth of Big Spring Creek, lived Jacob Humble in 1825. In 1849 he donated to the Primitive Baptist Church the lands on which is now located Humble Church. James Weatherspoon taught school at the mouth of Beaver Creek in 1829. Hutchens taught at the head of Little Spring Creek in 1827, and James Crockett, a cripple on crutches, taught at the same place in 1828.
The following is the story that tradition tells of the origin of the name " Plunder's Creek : " Early in this century hunters came from Dickson County for a hunt on Pine River and its tributaries. With them was Lemuel Russell, who was the owner of a valuable dog, " Old Plunder," the first in a deer chase and the last to leave a bear fight. Here on Plunder's Creek human eyes last rested on " Old Plunder," who left his master's side in pursuit of a retreating bear. The hunters, in honor of their lost friend, named the creek " Plunder's Creek."
Tradition has it that at an early date a party were on Garner's Creek. One of them, Colonel Garner, in attempting to cross the creek, fell from the log on which he was attempting to walk, and from this in- cident the creek received its name. Col. William Garner settled near the head of the creek, in Dick- son County, and in 1809 was killed by Indians, who crossed Duck River and came through Humphreys
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
County. Whether it was for him or for John Gar- ner, who was a chain carrier for Edwin Hickman in 1791, when Hickman made his disastrous locating tour down Pine River and up Duck River, that this creek was named, is not known. It is known, how- ever, that this party located land in this vicinity- at the mouth of " Spring Creek of Pine River."
Beaver Creek received its name from the large number of beavers which the pioneer hunters found there. Near the head of this creek, in 1840, Richard Hobbs operated a tannery and distillery, supplying the people with two articles-one a necessity, and the other, in that day, thought to be a necessity. Ed- mond Shumach and Cornelius D. White located on this creek about 1805. At an early date Oliver Smith laid a land warrant for 640 acres at the mouth of Bea- ver Creek. On this creek occurred the birth of the first white child born in Hickman County-Jane Wil- son, sister of Ben. Wilson. In after years she became the second wife of Jared Curl. Before the erection of Humble Church there stood at the mouth of Bea- ver Creek a Primitive Baptist church. Here this church, whose membership exceeded in number that of all the others combined, flourished under the leadership of Andrew Carothers, Jesse Fuqua, and Claiborne Hobbs as ministers, and such men as Jacob Humble and Solomon Jones as members. Several years after the building of Humble Church the Meth- odists and Cumberland Presbyterians built Kedron Church, at the mouth of Garner's Creek. At this
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SIXTH DISTRICT.
church have preached James Parrish, of Dickson County ; John Reynolds, - Nesbit, the Hinsons, Will. Allan Turner, - Whitten, - Moody, W. T. Dye, H. S. Ledbetter, R. R. Jones, George Cole- man, W. D. Cherry, and others. After the erection of the cotton mills at Pinewood by Samuel Gra- ham, a church was built here, with a. Masonic hall overhead. Here a Christian Church was organized, and some of the preachers who have preached here are E. G. Sewell, Rufus Meeks, James and John Mor- ton, and James P. Litton. After a suspension of twenty years, a Masonic lodge has recently been re- organized here. The officers of Pinewood Lodge, F. and A. M., are Rufus Sugg, W. M .; William Mc- Donough, S. W .; T. D. Thompson, J. W .; J. C. Fra- zier, Secretary; Joel Errington, Treasurer.
John Gordon taught school on Garner's Creek in 1821, and one of his pupils was Emily Steel. Isaac Wright taught here in 1830, and about that time mar- ried Emily Steel. The widow, Elizabeth Steel, came to this creek in 1821. She was born in North Caro- lina on July 2, 1779. Her husband, Thomas Steel, was born in the same State on November 26, 1769, and died in Orange County, N. C. Elizabeth Steel came to Garner's Creek with her five children-three girls and two boys. The eldest daughter, Rebecca, married Lint Box, of Humphreys County ; her sec- ond daughter, Rachel, married Jesse George; the third is Mrs. Emily Wright. William Alston Steel, the elder son, married Susan Stone, of Dickson
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
County, and lived in that county. The other son, Thomas Steel, was a deputy under Sheriff Solomon Jones George. The widow, Elizabeth Steel, was a half-sister of Solomon Jones. Mrs. Steel's mother was the widow Pollard, who married James Jones, the father of Solomon Jones. Solomon Jones mar- ried Chrissie Alston in North Carolina. He came to Tennessee in 1807, and settled at the mouth of Big Spring Creek. He exchanged his lands in North Carolina for military land warrants, and laid them here. Later he returned to North Carolina and in- duced his sister to come to Tennessee. Several of his brothers-in-law, the Alstons, came in 1810, and settled on Beaver Creek. His sons were Col. Dennis Jones, who married Martha Atkins, sister of Hon. J. D. C. Atkins, of Henry County ; William Jones, who married Susan McNeilly; and James G. Jones, of Humphreys County, who married Elizabeth Griner. The mother of James G. Jones was the second wife of Solomon Jones. She, at the time of her marriage, was the widow of Daniel Murphree, one of the pio- neers of the Eighth District. One of the daughters of Solomon Jones was the first wife of Millington Easley ; another married John Stuthard.
Mrs. Emily Wright (nee Steel) was born on May 21, 1813. At the age of eighty-four she possessed a vigorous mind filled with memories of other days. She lives alone, save the companionship of her sev- eral pets. These pets are a milch cow, a calf, a mule thirty-five years old, ten cats, and a goose thirty-four
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SIXTH DISTRICT.
years old. Sixteen years ago the goose quit lay- ing, and since then Mrs. Wright has not picked it. Another and oft-consulted companion is her family Bible.
Below where Mrs. Steel located, Bartlett and An- drew Stuart settled prior to 1815. They lived at the present Freeman place.
At the old Christian place, Greenberry Leathers, father of John, Thomas, and Fielding Leathers, lo- cated in 1806. He lived there at the time of the earthquake of 1811, which rattled the dishes in his cupboard. This cupboard is now the property of Mrs. Emily Wright. Although over ninety years old, it is well preserved. It was made by a negro cabinet workman, who was the slave of James Davis. Leathers lived on Garner's Creek at a time when settlers gathered their families at certain places at night for protection against the Indians. When inorning came each would return to his home for the day's work, assembling again at night.
Joel Errington, from North Carolina, settled on Garner's Creek, five miles from its mouth, in 1809. His son, Jacob, who was born on April 17, 1821, is now living at the old homestead. He has been mar- ried three times. His last wife is the daughter of Lemuel Russell, the pioneer hunter, for whose dog, " Old Plunder," a creek was named.
In 1812, at what is now the Reeves place, lived Thornton Perry, father of Dr. Eli Perry, of Hum- phreys County. Just below him on the creek lived
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HISTORY OF HICKMAN COUNTY, TENN.
Aaron Potter. While Perry and Potter were run- ning after a hog, Potter heard behind him a heavy fall and a groan. Turning, he found Perry lying dead on the ground. Potter lived to be about seventy years old. He was the father of Joel Potter.
At the Lytle Haley place, in 1812, a man named Ilam erected a mill. In 1820 John Christian, father of George W. Christian, erected a mill, which has later been known as the Solomon George mill, the Stanfield Andrews mill, and the John Martin mill. Solomon J. George lived at, and owned, this mill in 1856, when he was elected sheriff. He sold to An- drews and moved to Centerville. George was a son of Daniel George, of North Carolina. Daniel George married Miss Pollard, a half-sister of Solomon Jones, for whom he named his son, Solomon Jones George.
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